The Ettrick

317-319 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow. G60 5JQ. Tel: 0141 334 5878.

The Ettrick. 2006.

There were two Ettrick Bars, in Partick. The first establishment at 317-319 Dumbarton Road and the second at 517 Dumbarton Road at the corner of  Crawford Street.

On this page I will record the history of The Ettrick Bars starting with 317-319 Dumbarton Road, then 517-519 Dumbarton Road.

There’s been a pub on this site since the 1863. The first licensee was spirit merchant Robert Miller who was living at 302 Windsor Place, Partick. The pub was originally called “The Gun.”     Robert Miller continued to serve the locals until 1879. The business was then taken over by wine & spirit merchant Hugh Aitken.

Mr Aitken then changed the name of the pub to “The Criterion.” He was living at 15 Downie Place, Crow Road before moving to 25 Hayburn Terrace, Partick. In 1885 Robert was trading at 319 Dumbarton Road and 75 Merkland Street, Partick.

The Ettrick, 317-319 Dumbarton Road. 2005.

Hugh Aitken continued as licensee until 1912, by this time he was living with his wife and family at 575 Dumbarton Road. The next  spirit merchant to take over the business was well known and respected publican William Craib. Mr Craib also had a public house at 7 Taylor Street, Townhead. He was residing then at 47 Rottenrow not far from his new pub.

William started his career in 1905 and was granted a public house licence for premises in Taylor Street, Townhead. He was residing then at 47 Rottenrow not far from his new pub.

During the First World War William fought in the Army, he was one of the lucky ones to return and carried on in the licensed trade. During his period in the forces his uncle took control of the business. On his return he went on to be an agent for Arthur Booth Ltd, wholesale wine and spirit merchants. In 1926 he took over another pub at 21 Westmuir Street, Parkhead, in the east end of the city.

After the First World War, William Craib was paying an annual rent of £135 for the premises on Dumbarton Road. His son Charles took over a public house at 618 Dalmarnock Road in 1925.

Before the out-break of the Second World War his firm was now trading as William Craib & Company, Scotch Whisky Merchant, then having office in 154 St. Vincent Street. In 1941 William Craib was living at Matheran, 27-29 Sherbrooke Avenue, a beautiful Villa in an exclusive area in Pollokshields.

William Craib passed away in the 1940’s and still worked ever day until his death, going between his offices at St. Vincent Street, Westmuir Street and Dumbarton Road.

In 1950 Archibald T Kirkland was an attorney for William Craib’s public houses at 21 Westmuir Street and 317-319 Dumbarton Road (Craib’s Bar). He was also a trustee for pubs at 618 Dalmarnock Road (Craib’s Bar), and 1512 Maryhill Road (The Punch Bowl).

In 1960 Archibald T Kirkland was licence, he also ran pubs at 21 and 89 Westmuir Street, 618 Dalmarnock Road, and 1512 Maryhill Road.

In 1967 until the 1970s David Houston acquired the licence as one of the trustees of the late William Craib for both premises, Dumbarton Road and Westmuir Street. The Westmuir Street premises were demolished shortly afterwards.  David Houston was also licensee for pubs at 530 Victoria Road, 618 Dalmarnock Road and 89-97 Westmuir Street.

In 1991 Colin Beattie was the owner of the Criterion Bar. Mr Beattie went on to own many properties all over the city including public houses, “The Old College Bar,” High Street, Oran Mor, Byres Road / Great Western Road.

In recent years this old pub has been refurnished and had a few name changes, after the Ettrick it was known as Heisenberg’s and now 2019 “The Tenement.”

In 1960 Archibald was licensee for Craib’s, 317-319 Dumbarton Road, Partick, 21 and 89 Westmuir Street, Parkhead, 618 Dalmarnock Road in the east end of the city, and 1512 Maryhill Road.

In 1967 until the 1970s David Houston acquired the licence as one of the trustees of the late William Craib for both premises, Dumbarton Road and Westmuir Street. The Westmuir Street premises were demolished shortly afterwards.  David Houston was also licensee for pubs at 530 Victoria Road, 618 Dalmarnock Road and 89-97 Westmuir Street.

Criterion Bar, 317-319 Dumbarton Road. 1991.

This was the site of the old Criterion Bar up to the 1990s when it was refurbished and renamed The Ettrick.

The Ettrick, 317-319 Dumbarton Road.

In 1991 Colin Beattie was the owner of the Criterion Bar. Mr Beattie went on to own many properties all over the city including public houses, “The Old College Bar,” High Street, Oran Mor, Byres Road / Great Western Road.

In recent years this old pub has been refurnished and had a few name changes, after the Ettrick it was known as Heisenberg’s and now 2019 “The Tenement.”

Heisenberg’s. 2014. Thanks to Michelle O’Connell.

The Tenement. 2018.

Now its the history of the Ettrick Bar, 517-519 Dumbarton Road at the junction of Crawford Street, Partick. Demolished.

The old Ettrick Bar at the corner of Crawford Street and Dumbarton Road. 1931. Thanks to the Mitchell Library.

The first licensee for this old pub was spirit merchant William Boag who acquired a licence to sell wines, spirits and beer in 1869. William was living with his wife and family at 5 Crawford Place, Partick. Mr Boag continued as licensee until 1879 when his son John N Boag took over the public house. John also lived at 5 Crawford Place, Partick.

John N Boag moved house a few times during his time in the licensed trade from Crawford Place, to 2 Edelweiss Terrace, Partick, Scotstoun Villa, Scotstoun, Hamilton Terrace, Partick. In 1883 John was trading from 517-519 Dumbarton Road, “The Ettrick”; 421-423 Dumbarton Road “The Railway Vaults” on the site of the old Hayburn Vaults, and 157 St. George’s Road.

John N Boag. 1893.

To be for over a decade, the Treasurer and afterwards Secretary of the Wine, Beer, and Spirit Trade Association in one’s district, and still a comparatively young man, is no mean record. John and like his father have held licensed premises in Partick for over a generation. He had done so much for the trade in Scotland in his term in the Licensed Trade Association.

John was an enthusiastic volunteer and a capital shot, in a long connection with this important branch of Her Majesty’s service. He was a representative football man, he, in his younger days, did good service in the field for the Partick and Partick Thistle Clubs, which he represented on the Scottish Football Committee, and had the honour of being the first President of the Scottish Football Alliance.

Apart from football John was a supporter of all athletic sports. His premises were situated across the road from the car terminus and so convenient to the beautiful grounds of the West of Scotland Cricket Club, and the favourite rendezvous of cricketers as well as football enthusiasts.

Mr Boag continued at 517-519 Dumbarton Road until 1889, however he was still trading at the Railway Tavern, 421-423 Dumbarton Road, Partick.

The Ettrick Bar, 517 Dumbarton Road corner of Crawford Street. 1950s.

The next licensee was wine and spirit merchant, Daniel McMenemy.

Mr McMenemy acquired the certificate in 1890 for the premises at 517-519 Dumbarton Road and Crawford Street he was also licensee for premises at 267 South Wellington Street at the corner of 389-401 Cumberland Street, this old pub later became known as E Smyth. Daniel was living with his wife and children at 27 South Apsley Place, by 1908 he was living at 9 Carmichael Place, Langside. Daniel McMenemy continued in this public house until 1910. He passed away in 1911.

The business was sold to Thomas W Hogg. In 1919 Mr Hogg was paying an annual rent of £120. Thomas T Hogg continued as licensee through two world wars and include running his business through the 1950s. Thomas W Hogg was a member of the exclusive Kareless Klub.

Members of the Glasgow Kareless Klub, this image was taken at Perth on the occasion of their annual outing. The Klub was over fifty years of age when this image was taken in 1930. Included in the image:- left to right (back row)- Mr J. S. Kerr, Mr George Carrick, Mr Thomas W. Lang (the new president); Major W. B. Johnston, Mr Charles W. Mayger, Mr Joseph Robb, and Thomas W. Hogg. Front row – Mr J. Vallance, Mr John Warnock; Mr John Eadie, Mr James M. Maitland (the president), Mr J. M. Forrester (secretary), Mr George Thomson, and Mr Harry Macdonald.

In 1957 Mr Henry Stirling Lymburn acquired the licence. Many will still remember Lymburn’s Bars in the city, which included 431 St. George’s Road, 2 Sauchiehall Street at the corner of Buchanan Street.

The Ettrick Bar, 519 Dumbarton Road, after reconstruction in 1956.

Henry S Lymburn had the premises reconstructed as part of Glasgow’s growing number of Brighter Bars in the city. The reconstruction consisted of both interior and exterior. The use of Italian marble gave the frontage a brand new look. The interior had a main bar and a new cocktail bar, the main bar had a mural depicting shipping scenes. Above the cocktail bar in the lounge was a decorative mural, and on the either side of the bar were decorative plants. The manager of the pub was Mr T Blue. Many trade personalities attended the opening ceremony, which was performed by Lt.-Col. James H. Porter, D.S.O., Newcastle Breweries, Ltd. Henry S Lymburn continued here until 1960.

From 1961 till well into the 1970s, James Campbell Corrance was landlord here, he also owned the Possil Bar, Possil Road. The Ettrick Bar was demolished shortly afterword’s.

Do you remember this old pub? If so please leave a comment.

END.